Last updated October 6, 2026
The fair way to split tax and tip is in proportion to what each person ordered: each person pays the same percentage of the tax and tip as their share of the food. Splitting tax and tip evenly means the person who ordered a salad pays the same tip as the person who ordered the steak.
Three friends have dinner. The food comes to $100, tax is 8%, and they tip 20% on the pre-tax total.
| Person | Food | Share | Tax (8%) | Tip (20%) | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maya | $30 | 30% | $2.40 | $6.00 | $38.40 |
| Jordan | $20 | 20% | $1.60 | $4.00 | $25.60 |
| Sam | $50 | 50% | $4.00 | $10.00 | $64.00 |
| Total | $100 | 100% | $8.00 | $20.00 | $128.00 |
Try your own numbers in the split bill calculator. A shortcut that gives the same answer: multiply each person's food by 1 + tax rate + tip rate. Here that's 1.28, so Maya pays $30 × 1.28 = $38.40.
Split three ways, everyone pays $42.67. Jordan overpays by $17.07 and Sam underpays by $21.33. That gap is exactly the kind of thing nobody wants to bring up at the table.
Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is common in the US and is what the example uses. Some people tip on the after-tax total, which adds a little more. Either is fine as long as the whole table uses the same rule, and the proportional split works the same way.
The fast way: Tabby, the app ("Split with Tabby" on the App Store), does this for you. Scan the receipt, share one link, and everyone taps what they had. Tabby adds tax and tip in proportion and shows each person a button to pay you back. Join the waitlist to get it at launch.